About the course: As whitewater increases in complexity, our need to process information increases and our time in which to do it decreases. This is no better exemplified than in steep creeking as moves, technique, and decision making must become more refined. Join us for a weekend exploring some of the finer details of more advanced creeking while focusing on leader building and group management. Comfort and competency on more technical creeks can increase your effectiveness as a river leader if such leadership skills are in place. We will work through the paces of safety setting, managing group dynamics, and applying more advanced skills to better serve the group with which you are boating (ie: eddy selection, on the fly moves, etc). Students can expect to push themselves on both familiar and unfamiliar runs with more challenging moves and lines. Your goal should be to push through to class IV and beyond both as a boater and a river leader. It is also important to remember that the most critical prerequisite for any course is willingness.
“I felt very safe on the water and (this class) enabled me to push myself outside of my comfort zone. Because of this class, I am a better leader, more thorough with my safety practices, and more efficient with my strokes and maneuvers.”
– Kyle T.
Prerequisite skill:
- Ages 18 and up
- Comfort and experience creeking on Class III, pushing into class IV
- A reliable Class III combat roll
- Be in good health and overall fitness
- Comfort in open water and swimming required
- Common Sense Rescue or equivalency are required
- Fundamentals of Creeking or equivalency are required
- Frequency and proficiency on runs like Wilson Creek, NFFB, Daddy’s Creek, Section IV Chattooga
Trip price: $425.00
Location(s): Saluda, NC and surrounding creeks
Trip duration: 2.5 days (Friday session @ 5:30p + ~ 6 hours each day)
Guest to instructor ratio: 3 guests to 1 instructor; class caps at 3
Included:Â
- Shuttle transportation
- Supplemental class materials
- Instruction/guiding
Not included:
- Transportation to Saluda, NC
- Meals
- Equipment essentials
- Lodging
joane farrell –
Simply the best clinic I have ever taken.
Kyle Thomas –
Prior to taking this class, I struggled with confidence issues. I was very afraid of stepping up to the next level. The Creeking Leadership course provided me with the tools to combat my confidence issues and led to my first run of the Green River Narrows.
Chris’ teaching style is unique and provides self-empowerment. On the river, we were put in leadership roles and expected to make decisions for the group on a particular rapid. When I did not have enough information to make a decision, I brainstormed with the group for methods to gain more information (e.g. boat scouting from an eddy, scouting from the river bank, etc.). While navigating the rapid, the group worked on keeping a line of sight and steady communication between group members. These were all skills that I did not work on enough during my personal trips and with my group members before putting on the river.
Throughout the class, I did not follow-the-leader behind Chris. The group members selected the line, executed the line, and made recommendations for safety set-up. I felt very safe on the water and it enabled me to push myself outside of my comfort zone. Because of this class, I am a better leader, more thorough with my safety practices, and more efficient with my strokes and maneuvers.
Brad Preslar –
Great, great, great class. Awesome and informative curriculum with 2 great river days. Chris put together a well-organized and well thought out course for someone wanting to step up their creeking game.
Class starts with “what to pack in your boat” basics and moves on to to leadership theory and a discussion of group dynamics. You’ll get plenty of practice both boat and shore scouting rapids, learning how to read more difficult water and watch for hazards. Then you paddle some kick-ass whitewater. Worth every penny.
And for all the brahs out there, this class is totally Jah sanctioned. I had several intimate visitations from Jah Great Camel, and he was pleased.
Jennifer Stockwell –
My reason for taking the advanced creeking class was because of a personal mental block that I’ve shouldered for a couple years and to refine my concepts of boofing. What I walked away with was an experience I did not expect. I was pleasantly surprised that Chris added a leadership aspect that initiated me to step outside my usual focus and concentrate on guiding a small group down a technical rapid and thinking about all aspects of effectively getting everyone down the rapid safely and with confidence. I also learned comprehensive skills to practice boofing techniques, instead of just deflecting myself off a rock (Chris also sent video afterwards to help refine ourselves with a visual component). There were many surprises in this class making the uncommon more common and making us more comfortable and aware. I relearned some old concepts that I forgot and have a lot of new concepts to work on to have fun with to keep improving.
Tony Patterson –
What a GREAT course with a WONDERFUL venue and a VERY inspiring instructor! Enjoyed the friendly small town charm of Saluda from the moment I arrived. From my stay at the Blue Firefly Inn with incredible breakfast included, to a variety of dinner choices, to the Saluda Outfitters home base… Everything was easy to find and made my preparations for this course/nightly recovery very pleasant. And then the Green River Gorge with its different river sections… So beautiful and so suitable to objectives of the course. Chris was both informative and inspiring throughout the two days on the river and even hung out afterwards to answer questions as well as discuss additional topics of our choice. I was really impressed with his knowledge of the river and how to use different parts or specific Rapids to illustrate his points and/or help teach us certain objectives.
I enjoyed this SO much in fact I am currently looking for dates next year to get my daughter and wife registered to take.
rsubram9 –
The Advanced Creeking Clinic was one of the BEST kayaking clinics I’ve ever attended. We discussed how to select a creeking venue, checking rain gauges, preparing our gear for creeking environment. At the creek we started by going through a flatwater warm up drill to make sure we get ready for the rest of the day. We focused on strokes, boofing techniques, reading & running whitewater, catching eddies, scouting; from boat & from the shore. We ran a few rapids multiple times to dial in our techniques on day 1 while Chris & Lydia offered feedback in real time. They recorded video of us running the drops, we then analyzed the video and worked on improving our technique. Day 2 was absolutely incredible! I got a chance to go on a Personal First Descent where Chris & Lydia challenged me and helped me step out of my comfort zone. They suggested that I lead the trip which added a whole new dimension to the day! This was a great opportunity for me to put the skills I’ve been learning into action. They helped me understand that kayaking is so much more than just the whitewater, it’s about developing a holistic approach not only towards the whitewater but the environment you’re in. I focused on catching eddies to make sure I don’t run blind drops and ensure that our group could safely descend down a remote class 3-4 creek in Pisgah National Forest. I was challenged to make tough decisions and moves on and off the water, which only helped me feel more confident by the end of the clinic.
I would highly recommend taking this clinic to those who are willing to push themselves both mentally and physically to become a better kayaker and person!